LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Victims of human
trafficking could find themselves excluded from the "best legal
protections" after Britain leaves the European Union, the
chairwoman of a parliamentary anti-trafficking watchdog said on
Tuesday.

British lawmaker Fiona MacTaggart told a UK anti-slavery
conference that Britain's membership of the EU had enabled
lawyers to argue on behalf of enslaved people at the European
Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

But proposed changes to British law in the wake of the Brexit
vote on June 23 would mean "ECHR rulings will not prevail", the
opposition Labour member of parliament said.

"Better protection for victims of slavery must be part of the
Brexit agenda," MacTaggart told a gathering of around 200
campaigners, lawyers and other delegates in London.

Prime Minister Theresa May said earlier this month that Britain,
where an estimated 11,700 people are enslaved, would "lead the
world" with its efforts to stamp out modern day slavery and human
trafficking.

In July, the prime minister pledged to use 33.5 million pounds
($42 million) from the foreign aid budget to focus on combating
slavery in countries where victims are known to be trafficked to
Britain.

But MacTaggart said she had not heard any government ministers
working on Brexit mention what new protections there will be for
trafficked people after Britain leaves the EU.

"I call on those planning our exit from Europe to prepare and
publish a plan to protect future victims of slavery and
compensate them for their exploitation," MacTaggart said.

The Home Office (interior ministry) and the Department for
Exiting the European Union did not immediately respond to
requests for comment.

Delegates at the annual conference voiced concerns trafficking
victims would suffer as a result of tougher immigration controls
and Britain's withdrawal from the EU's international
crime-fighting agency, Europol.

"If you want to slam your borders shut - in a Brexit model - how
does that tally with what our prime minister wants to do which is
lead the world on combatting trafficking?" said lawyer Parosha
Chandran, who has represented victims of human trafficking.

Activists have welcomed Britain's Modern Slavery Act, which came
into force last year, as a milestone in the struggle against a
crime affecting nearly 46 million people worldwide, according to
the 2016 Global Slavery Index by Walk Free Foundation.

But MacTaggart said the UK law was too focused on prosecuting
offenders, an approach which often fails.

"The witnesses, who are also victims don't get the support they
need to give evidence," MacTaggart said.